Your signal strengths are good, especially since you have some that are 98 so it doesn't seem like its peaking too much. Your cable card isn't locked because its not setup and authorized properly. Have you called the TWC cablecard hotline number to talk to the pros to authorize your card?

It's, I've been calling the first number listed for twc. Unfortunately when I ask for their cable card expert level support, they tell me there isn't a number or level above what I'm calling.very frustrating!
Regardless, even without a cc inserted shouldn't I be able to get some non sdv channels?

Regardless, even without a cc inserted shouldn't I be able to get some non sdv channels?

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No. Without the Cablecard, you would be able to view only Clear QAM. Basically, those channels which TWC provides without any sort of encryption. As I mentioned previously, these would be the locals (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. affiliates in your area) and a few random channels. Theses channels can be viewed via anything with a digital TV tuner. If you took your coax directly to the back of any modern HDTV and performed a channel scan, the listing of channels would be as described above.

With a properly paired CableCard, you would be able to view all Linear channels provided by TWC. Linear channels are typically the more popular channels and are always "in the coax" per se. The CableCard provides decryption of said channels, as well as a channel map (which, for example, tells the Tivo what frequency channel 101 is located on so the Tivo knows where to tune if you type in "101").

With a properly paired CableCard and activated TA, you would be able to view all Linear & SDV channels. SDV channels are typically the less popular channels and are only "in the coax" when a user requests the channel to be sent to them. This is where the TA comes in. When you ask for an SDV channel, the Tivo sends a signal to the TA asking for that channel via the USB cable. The TA then communicates with the TWC head-end for your area and aks for the channel. The head-end responds back to the TA by telling it what frequency was assigned for the requested channel. The TA then tells the Tivo the assigned frequency via the USB cable and the Tivo subsequently tunes to that frequency.

I suggested the channel scan as a signal check. You mentioned you're still unable to go to any channel via the Tivo guide. Did you try tuning a local like ABC or CBS? The problem is probably that the Tivo guide is expecting a CableCard to provide a channel map so it knows what frequency to tune. You're probably unable to tune anything since the channel map is absent.

On last thing to try while setup without a CableCard would be to manually enter a local channel. For my TWC area, the local's are assigned frequencies that map to the equivalent of the OTA channel designations. For example, CBS is channel 10. On a TV attached directly to the coax line, I can tune to that channel by entering 10-1 like you would for OTA.

No. Without the Cablecard, you would be able to view only Clear QAM. Basically, those channels which TWC provides without any sort of encryption. As I mentioned previously, these would be the locals (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. affiliates in your area) and a few random channels. Theses channels can be viewed via anything with a digital TV tuner. If you took your coax directly to the back of any modern HDTV and performed a channel scan, the listing of channels would be as described above.

With a properly paired CableCard, you would be able to view all Linear channels provided by TWC. Linear channels are typically the more popular channels and are always "in the coax" per se. The CableCard provides decryption of said channels, as well as a channel map (which, for example, tells the Tivo what frequency channel 101 is located on so the Tivo knows where to tune if you type in "101").

With a properly paired CableCard and activated TA, you would be able to view all Linear & SDV channels. SDV channels are typically the less popular channels and are only "in the coax" when a user requests the channel to be sent to them. This is where the TA comes in. When you ask for an SDV channel, the Tivo sends a signal to the TA asking for that channel via the USB cable. The TA then communicates with the TWC head-end for your area and aks for the channel. The head-end responds back to the TA by telling it what frequency was assigned for the requested channel. The TA then tells the Tivo the assigned frequency via the USB cable and the Tivo subsequently tunes to that frequency.

I suggested the channel scan as a signal check. You mentioned you're still unable to go to any channel via the Tivo guide. Did you try tuning a local like ABC or CBS? The problem is probably that the Tivo guide is expecting a CableCard to provide a channel map so it knows what frequency to tune. You're probably unable to tune anything since the channel map is absent.

On last thing to try while setup without a CableCard would be to manually enter a local channel. For my TWC area, the local's are assigned frequencies that map to the equivalent of the OTA channel designations. For example, CBS is channel 10. On a TV attached directly to the coax line, I can tune to that channel by entering 10-1 like you would for OTA.

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Very good explanation, thank you! I did try all of my local channels and always got the "you need a cable card" message.
I didn't try direct tuning to the local station ota number instead of how it's mapped on twc Austin but at this point I'm not optimistic. I'm willing to try more stuff as suggestions come in.
At one point early on in the game I did connect cable directly to my digital tv and got some channels but they were on weird channel numbers, ie-87.2, 110.4, etc.
I'm siding with other posters here they the account isn't set up right but I can't convince anyone I've talked to and they immediately dismiss it. I wish I knew what or how to say what I need to in order to get them to figure out how to get the account correctly set up.

Those weird numbers you mention are the ones he's telling you to tune to. Find the ones that correlate to your locals (abc, cbs, etc) and then type those into your remote for the TiVo to try to direct tune them. He wasn't saying to tune to the over the air frequency because that's not the frequency your cable co puts them on their line at. They use the weird numbers (QAM) you saw when you hooked directly to your tv.

When you call them, be confident and say you have it on very good authority, people that have been doing cablecards for years, that it is a system Auth issue and NOT signal or equipment. If that doesn't work, demand a technical supervisor and threaten to cancel and bring all equipment back if they don't comply and at least try what your asking.

One thing I saw from another thread is to call TiVo first and then have them conference call the TWC hotline to be your expert advocate. I like that idea.

Those weird numbers you mention are the ones he's telling you to tune to. Find the ones that correlate to your locals (abc, cbs, etc) and then type those into your remote for the TiVo to try to direct tune them. He wasn't saying to tune to the over the air frequency because that's not the frequency your cable co puts them on their line at. They use the weird numbers (QAM) you saw when you hooked directly to your tv.

When you call them, be confident and say you have it on very good authority, people that have been doing cablecards for years, that it is a system Auth issue and NOT signal or equipment. If that doesn't work, demand a technical supervisor and threaten to cancel and bring all equipment back if they don't comply and at least try what your asking.

One thing I saw from another thread is to call TiVo first and then have them conference call the TWC hotline to be your expert advocate. I like that idea.

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OK, that works, meaning that I was able to type in 86 and get one of the local Austin city government channels, 84 was a local Fox channel, etc. I don't know how I'd know where other channels correlate with local channels to know what to tune to. Also, when I connected cable directly to my TV and did a scan some of the channels I found ended with a dot and number (ie: 86.4, 104.33, etc.) so I don't know how I'd direct tune to those. No matter though, I can directly tune to one of those channels.

OK, that works, meaning that I was able to type in 86 and get one of the local Austin city government channels, 84 was a local Fox channel, etc. I don't know how I'd know where other channels correlate with local channels to know what to tune to. Also, when I connected cable directly to my TV and did a scan some of the channels I found ended with a dot and number (ie: 86.4, 104.33, etc.) so I don't know how I'd direct tune to those. No matter though, I can directly tune to one of those channels.

What does all this mean?

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OK, I just had a Lonnnggg conversation with Tivo tech support. Bottom line is he is convinced I don't have a cable signal coming in my house.
We tried hooking the coax back up to my digital tv and the only channels I could receive were ones with ended with a dot (.4 or .5, etc), never a whole number. He explained that any of the channel numbers I read off to him that I was getting was only over the air channels. If that is the case then I misunderstood all this time thinking was actually getting a cable feed when I guess I wasn't.

He had me do some other technical stuff and looking at the various cable card diag screens, and he says what he was seeing on those screens supports this line of thinking. He mainly commented on no lock status but also pointed out some other screens I don't remember. To him, they meant no cable signal.

For the record, I have 3 coax cables coming from my attic to my AV center. I tried all 3 cables (directly coupled to the coax coming into the house), so I'm extremely doubtful that 3 cables could be faulty. That, plus the not locked status and other things have me thinking the same way the tivo support guy -- no cable signal.

So I guess it's possible that Time Warner didn't come by or came by and didn't do what they were supposed to. There was no notice of them having been here but maybe they don't do that anymore.

I guess if I really don't have a cable signal (but I do have internet/phone), that is why my tuning adapter would never go solid green?

I guess if I really don't have a cable signal (but I do have internet/phone), that is why my tuning adapter would never go solid green?

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If you have cable modem that is working then that same line will carry TV signals as well. Since you know that line works you can always use a splitter to split coax going into cable modem and take 1 split to cable modem and other to feed your TiVo. That line will have digital TV signals for sure.

If you have cable modem that is working then that same line will carry TV signals as well. Since you know that line works you can always use a splitter to split coax going into cable modem and take 1 split to cable modem and other to feed your TiVo. That line will have digital TV signals for sure.

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That is the same coax line I've been using this entire time.

This issue appears to be that there just isn't a cable signal coming over the line; the assumption is that TWC didn't turn on my cable as I was told they did.

......We tried hooking the coax back up to my digital tv and the only channels I could receive were ones with ended with a dot (.4 or .5, etc), never a whole number. He explained that any of the channel numbers I read off to him that I was getting was only over the air channels. If that is the case then I misunderstood all this time thinking was actually getting a cable feed when I guess I wasn't. .....

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The ".4, .6, .10, .08, etc" channels ARE digital cable tv signals! I don't know what the TiVo person is telling you about over the air only, but the "dot something" channels are digital signals, whether OTA ATSC or QAM digital cable signals. Because you do have a signal with your cable modem, that means your cable signal is there, but you "may" have a trap still on your cable line that blocked some or all of your TV frequencies. Does your system still have analog tv channels or are you all digital in your area?

It certainly could be that the tech never physically came to your house and uninstalled the trap that was blocking your tv frequencies, which would prevent them being able to activate your Cablecard and ta. Did you have any TV channel packages previously or just Internet service from them?

Here's an idea, if you have a neighbor that has cable TV, try taking your gear to their house, plugging it in and calling in to activate again. If the TA and Cablecard activate correctly, take them back to your house and hook them up. If they then fail to tune all the channels again, then you know there's a signal issue, probably the trap as mentioned. I they don't activate still at your neighbor's, then it points to an issue with your account not being built or activated properly.

OK, not sure what to say about a 10 day ordeal that ended up with a tech coming out to discover that, all along, the cable TV was never turned on!!!!
Of course I was very upset and tomorrow I will call TWC and do my best to rip them a new one for the hours I spent on the phone with Tivo and TWC cablecard 'experts' only to find out that the original order of turning on my cable was never done or noted as such in their system.
Once this guy turned on my cable, the card updated and within minutes, all was well.
I did have some minor glitches getting the Tuning Adapter to sync up and work but they all got worked out.
Why on God's green Earth wouldn't someone who came out and (for whatever reason) couldn't turn on the cable didn't not this in the ticket is beyond me.
I know I'm out over a week of cable TV and about 10 total phone hours.
Damn, I'm pissed.